High Court acquits former FSC boss on jobbery charge

By Shelley Huang / STAFF REPORTER

Former chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) Kong Jaw-sheng (龔照勝) was found not guilty of jobbery at the Taiwan High Court yesterday.

Kong, who also previously served as chairman of the state-owned Taiwan Sugar Corp, was indicted in 2006. Prosecutors said Kong failed to comply with legal procurement regulations when he served as a government-appointed executive of the state-run company.

They had asked for a seven-year jail term.

Kong was later found not guilty by the Taipei District Court. Prosecutors appealed the ruling.

He was charged with using NT$100 million (US$3 million) to improperly benefit others and breach of trust in three cases of corruption during his term as chairman of the company from December 2003 to June 2004.

He was also accused of granting a certain company exclusive distribution rights to market upscale collagen cosmetics products and opening a coffee shop without following the proper public procurement process.

Other charges included the improper hiring of his sister-in-law as an adviser with a monthly salary of US$3,000.

Rejecting the appeal, the Taiwan High Court said there was no evidence to prove that Kong had asked clerks to break the law or that he used controversial methods to make procurements.

The court could find no evidence that Kong had illegally benefited others. Taiwan Sugar Corp could legally negotiate pricing with only one company, the court said.

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